Remember when I publicly declared how I hated Math when I was in school? I went on to mention that I “never liked numbers and my teachers didn’t seem to care that it didn’t make sense to me…”

Well, that was then, and this is now, and I CONTINUE to seek out engaging ways to enhance the math experience in my home. If not for my kiddos, then for me! A momma’s gotta find fun where she can, right?

In comes the Zillio Mini Mountain – and truly, the makers of this math tool did not use the word “mountain” lightly! The Mini Mountain, which is ideal for our homeschool setup, is 18″ in diameter and 8″ in height. Zillio also comes in a Mega Mountain, which is 27″ in diameter and 12″ in height; I’m not even sure I have a place I could store the Mega Mountain!

What exactly is the Zillio Mini Mountain?

The Zillio Mini Mountain is basically a colorful, somewhat-rounded, pyramid-shaped, rotating model used to teach times tables and number lines. These two critical math concepts are learned using the Zillio’s twelve multi-colored staircases and foam tokens.

Each of the detachable Zillio staircases represent a number and that number’s multiples.

All equivalent numbers are at the same height so children can see and feel important math concepts while they play and learn math.

The makers call it “a whole new 3-dimensional approach to board games” and I couldn’t agree more.

The Mini Mountain also comes with a spiral-bound packet complete with 21 math-based, imaginative games, tailored for different age/skill levels; players compete and collaborate in the games, developing ten essential math skills as they claim territory, advance or conquer.

So “What’s the Deal-io with Zillio?”

Initially, I was concerned the Zillio Mini Mountain, while bright and fun visually, might not catch-on with my seven- and ten-year-old. Time after time, I have purchased games, educational or otherwise, that seemed like a great idea at the time, but didn’t play-out well in our homeschool.

Poor, unused toys and manipulatives.

So, it was with some reservation that I pulled out the Zillio Mini Mountain and gathered my hoodlums around it.

The doubts? They were short short-lived.

Very short-lived.

But before I go any further, let me give you a quick heads-up on what NOT to do if you happen to purchase your own Zillio Mini Mountain.

READ before you PROCEED!

Remember when you were in third grade and your teacher said over and over, “Read the directions before you begin?”

That concept didn’t “take” with me apparently.

I’m 38 and Mrs. Dominguez would be so ashamed.

See these lovely foam cards? There are 12 of them. Each foam card has a total of 66 foam tokens.

If you take 12 and you multiply it times 66, you get 792.

Let’s put it another way: The PRODUCT of 12 x 66 = 792

There. I feel smarter already!

That’s 792 itty-bitty foam tokens.

Now, if you do NOT read the directions, you may think all those foam tokens need to be eradicated from the stifling boundaries of their foam cards.

You may even encourage your children to push them out into a nice and neat plastic container for safer storage.

And glancing upon the 792 foam tokens nestled in their new home might make you smile…you know, because you are SO SMART.

If you think those things?
If you DO those things?
You will be wrong.
Oh, sooooo wrong.

You will also test the love of your children as you then must divide up all the colors and return all 792 of the foam tokens to their lovely, embracing, should-have-remained-there, foam cards.

Where they will be safe.
For eternity.
Forever and ever, Amen.

Consider yourself warned.

Back to the Genius of Zillio

I’d like to state for the record that this product lives up to the hype. It is innovative, it is educational, it is engaging, and apparently, it is fun…just ask my kids.

We started with a collaborative game – Mountain Goat Scramble 1, placing any token blank side-up at the bottom of every staircase except the 1x staircase.

The tokens are referred to as goats in this game.

One player rolls the dice to calculate possible moves.

*Ahem*

We used dice from one of our other games, because ONCE AGAIN I failed to read (I’m sorry Mrs. Dominguez!). If I HAD read I would have know the game’s dice were stored in the “treasure trove” atop the Zillio. *Der*

The player can use any one of the die and move the goat up one more step on the staircase; or use two dice to calculate the sum or the difference and then move the goat up one more step.

Each player can move any goat they want, even if another player moved the same goat the turn before.

After all the players have taken a turn for each roll of the dice, the dice is rolled again to create new possible moves.

The game is over when all the goats have reached the top.

Seems easy enough, right?

The next game we tried, Kudzu Capture continues to be the reigning favorite.

And how could it not be? Listen to this:

“Kudzu has taken over the Mountain. But scientists have just realized it is worth its weight in gold as a medicine! Claim as many clumps of kudzu as possible by stating the multiplication fact associated with its location and weight.”

The idea is to find “weightier” Kudzu by guessing at the higher level multiples. Kenny is beginning 2nd grade and starts with some safer “weights”, like 3×4=12.

Meredith, having memorized her times tables goes straight to the top.

Taking turns, they work up and around the Zillio Mini Mountain, trying to win more Kudzus than the other.

Kenny gets braver and works out that 9×4=36. He is, as you can tell, very content with himself.

Each time they are required to give the multiplication number sentence and the answer.

Meredith is more than a little pleased with herself after winning the first round. They break for lunch and decide they will play another round after they eat.

And another round…

and another one.

Wow.

Random Tidbits about Zillio

The Zillio received the coveted Dr. Toy’s “Best Play and Learn Vacation Award” in 2009 and the AblePlay’s highest rating for meeting the needs of children with cognitive disabilities.

Also, Richard Gill, the Co-Developer of Pictionary, after seeing children play with Zillio at the Chicago Toy and Game Fair said, “It was amazing to see that the games kept children from ages 4 to 15 engaged and playing math all day long. This is a truly fantastic educational family game.”

Now, I didn’t create a world-renown board game, nor have I earned any awards for math manipulative development, but I can tell you two things:

1. When you play Zillio you gain the extraordinary ability to grab numbers right out of the top of your eyelids; it’s true!

2. Zillio gives you more bang for your buck. What other game can be played right out of the baby nursery and straight into the nursing home?

Beat that!

About the Author: Heather Sanders is a work at home mom who homeschools her three children. If you’d like to learn if it’s possible for you to pursue your passions and earn an income while staying home with your kids, subscribe today.

Gotta love an educational game that’s also fun. Must love an educational game that specializes in math that’s also fun. Just might bow down at the creators of an educational game that specializes in math AND is very visual that’s also fun! As a Mama of a kidlet on the Autism Spectrum, all of the above is smile worthy. Thanks for the entertaining review! :>

This looks amazing! I am thinking even though my girls are 13 we should try this – all three of us are terrible at math! They have improved since we started using Teaching Textbooks but still sometimes basic concepts go over their head. Thanks for reviewing this great product, Heather! Looks like your kids are enjoying it!

Wow – what an innovative game! Kudos to the creators of this game. I have never been a fan of Math and I am a homeshcool mom too! But my hubby is the math/science whiz/lover, so I figured I did not need to develop a love of it for the sake of my children. However, my 5-year old is a little math whiz – our 6-year old could use some fun creative ways to engage her in the number world a little more (she’s like her mom), and this really looks just plain awesome!

Thank you. I love that you really gave us a good run down on what it looks like, how it is used and how it is working for your kids. I too have made many an exciting purchase for mom – but not so exciting for the kids…so I have become “gun shy” in picking out more as our budget has gotten tighter. But, now with the details you gave, I won’t be afraid of this one. It was not just the manufacturer’s hype that I felt was trying to suck me in!!! Thanks bunches!!!

Wow! Super jealous that all I got were worksheets and more worksheets … and then some more when I was in math class.

14

Liz in OK On Monday, August 16 at 8:40 am

Looking at the website’s comparison chart between the Mini & Mega, I’m wondering if the Mini is enough? Do you just multiply & divide up to 36 with the Mini? Is it enough to see the number relationships up to 36? Why do I always think that bigger is better? (bonus points if you can psychologically evaluate that last one)

The Mega mountain would be bulky to store, but the Mini-Mountain rests on our bookshelves in the schoolroom (they are 18″ deep). It does come with a very sturdy box if you don’t have a place to leave it out in the open (shelf or closet).

16

Laura P. On Monday, August 16 at 9:48 am

This is really awesome! At first my mathematically challenged brain didn’t understand it, but I checked out the explanatory video on the zillio website and wow, if i had one of these as a kid I would not be so mathematically challenged.

I don’t have kids yet (a few more years), but OMSH, you inspire me to consider home schooling. Thanks for your great tips and suggestions!

Really cool math game, but a little expensive. This would be a great way for my girls to work on their math skills, but it’ll have to wait till I can find the funds for it. Thanks for sharing the info.http://www.coralorchid.webs.com

18

Beth Cox On Monday, August 16 at 10:03 am

WELL!!!! I love this! I teach third grade and this will definately be in my classroom ASAP!

19

Mallory Marsico On Monday, August 16 at 10:16 am

Okay, as a brand new homeschooler, I am sincerely freaking out. Is my 4 year old supposed to know his multiplication tables? I’m just now teaching him how to write his numbers and his letters and have him recognize them…and there are some days we can barely get through them! Can someone tell me how far behind we are?

20

CC in NJ On Monday, August 16 at 10:24 am

Looks like fun….anytime fun is associated with learning it is a good thing!

Kristi On Monday, August 16 at 11:38 am

I’m also a graphic designer with no math skills. Did well in Geometry but Algebra was a mystery. I just don’t “see” numbers in my head and have a terrible memory for things like the multiplication table. This tool looks awesome and I put it on my 5-year-old’s Amazon wish list. Though it’s rather pricey. Thanks for showing!

23

Mallory Marsico On Monday, August 16 at 11:45 am

*I already posted this once but it isn’t showing up….so I apologize if it reappears later*

As a brand new homeschooler to my newly turned 4 year old I am absolutely freaking out. He’s supposed to know multiplication tables? I’m just now teaching him to write letters and numbers and being able to correctly identify them. Can someone tell me how far behind we are so I can get him caught up??

Mallory, oh no…my son is 7. He is going into the 2nd grade and he is just now being introduced to multiplication (he has just had an interest in Math from early on…so we work at his pace).

The game is good for ages 4 and up and there are games/activities for ALL ages. I just worked on games that were appropriate for my kids’ ages. There are activities for multiple ages – including 4.

Kristi On Wednesday, August 18 at 12:50 pm

Mallory,

I don’t homeschool but I know that feeling of terror in wondering if your child is where they should be. Just remember to consider your whole child–don’t focus only on the academics. My son has been reading since he was three and could do math problems at 4 BUT he was not as socially outgoing as I would like him to be or adventurous or independent as I thought a boy should be. Summer camp somehow changed the first two of those to the point that I wonder who this rowdy little couch-climbing-punk is that’s dirtying up my house. Still working on getting him to think for himself which I believe is worth more than being able to say the abcs forwards and backwards. You’ll be fine and so will he.

24

Rachel Elsey On Monday, August 16 at 12:19 pm

I am super excited about this. I am starting homeschooling my youngest daughter in 2nd grade this year and she struggles with math and I think this is just the ticket for us. I also have an older daughter starting 5th grade this year. I am wondering if the mini will cover both students of is the larger one is more of what i need. I will invest in it if I think I need to. Opinions would be appreciated.

You know, I really enjoyed the SIZE of the Mini Mountain, but I am going to donate this one to the local private school’s Kinder or First Grade class and I’ve decided to go ahead and get the Mega-Mountain now that I know it will be used. I want the elevations up to 60 for more diversity of use across two ages.

Thanks for showcasing this. I’ve seen the advertisments and even puttered around their site, but, like you, I would think that maybe I might be wasting my money. I think I’ll wait until my oldest is a little older and his sister can play with him.

Math practice that is Über fun? Can’t beat that.

26

Melony On Monday, August 16 at 12:51 pm

My kids go to public school (they will be in 2nd grade & kindergarten this year) but I’m always looking for these kinds of games for family game night and vacation games. Thank you so much for this info and the warning to read instructions – I would have done EXACTLY what you you did with the foam tiles
Have you checked out the Professor Noggin card games? We have a few and my kids love them. We usually take our learning a little beyond the info on the cards but they are a great jumping off point.

Rosalyn On Monday, August 16 at 2:35 pm

This week I am highlighting why I like Math U See. As a former classroom teacher who now homeschools, I really like the hands-on approach of the Math U See curriculum. It has been great for my son.

I am always looking for ways to include hands-on problem solving into our homeschooling day. Zillio looks very interesting. Although I have to admit, my sister and I just had to go view the video to understand the whole concept.

Oh and by the way I think Elizabeth is one smart lady! This would be a great giveaway! Hint, hint!

Okay, I’m Jeannine’s sister. We watched that video together and I still don’t get it. I guess that means my eight year-old, math whiz grandson will beat the pants-off me. This really does look great for him. Math is his strength. He didn’t get it from his grandma!

Elisa F. On Monday, August 16 at 3:06 pm

Aaaaakkkk! I would have done the EXACT SAME things to the cards, and I’m afraid I still might!!!

Thanks for all the comments everyone, and for your insight OMSH on mega vs. mini, I’m going to jump right in, skimp a bit on groceries this month, and get the mega.

34

Tanya On Monday, August 16 at 3:49 pm

Very Cool! but very expensive I second the giveaway!!

35

Sue L. On Monday, August 16 at 3:54 pm

This looks neat, but I became totally lost just from the directions you gave on your post. I do not have strong math skills beyond the basics. So, I know I will have trouble helping my girls learn math as well. I’d like to help them learn through games such as this one, but if I can’t even understand the directions you posted, how will I ever be able to explain the games to them? It seems complicated and only geared toward multiplication tables. Perhaps (again) I just don’t understand the game?? Thanks for sharing your “find” however. I’m sure Moms with strong math skills will be able to use this for their kids.

Carol On Monday, August 16 at 7:27 pm

Wow. I am a math lover, but this seemed confusing? I am an obsessive direction reader and hands-on learner. Guess I will just have to make a purchase. We use Math-U-See and my kids love, love, love it!

40

raylene On Monday, August 16 at 8:37 pm

I just bought it!! Thanks so much for the recommendation and I’m looking forward to reading more product reviews.

I hope to post a product review a week. I’ve already been reviewing a few things – other things are in the mail (oh how mindful I need to be of my Amazon budget), but I need to truly know something will work for/with my kiddos before it goes up here.

I’ve been homeschooling for 23 years now and still have 17 more years to go. I LOVE to buy educational games for my children and my gameshelves are overloaded with games that rarely get played. I need to spend more time playing the games and then maybe the schoolwork will go faster. I have seen this game before and will put it on my short list for Christmas this year.

44

MaggieRuns On Tuesday, August 17 at 7:59 am

WOW! Sounds like a great recommendation but man oh man! Expensive. Saving to buy our curriculum. Might be on a wish list…

I can see why reading the directions would be so important. One could get lost very easily without them.

Also, thanks for the tip on leaving the tokens in their cards! Putting them back must have taken forever.

47

Sea On Wednesday, August 18 at 6:40 am

Thanks for posting about this. I have a 10 year old who “learns differently” and needs visual and tactile aids. I will definitely look into this fun tool.

48

Pam On Wednesday, August 18 at 1:13 pm

This is why I could never home school. That looks like pure torture to me. I couldn’t even read the whole post.

49

Shelly Pope On Wednesday, August 18 at 2:15 pm

This looks like so much fun! And I love how organized your shelves are! If only mine were… thanks for the review!

50

StacyW On Thursday, August 19 at 2:08 pm

I’ve looked at this for the last few days and went to their site and ordered one today. My daughter is going into 4th grade and although she made all A’s, math is her hardest to grasp subject, so I’m hoping this will make something click better for her. Keeping my fingers crossed, we’ll see.

51

Kathy On Thursday, August 19 at 7:36 pm

Hello,
Don’t know if I missed it or not but can you tell me where you purchased the game?
I homeschool a 10 & 8 year old. I would LOVE to improve there math skills.

Thank-you,
Kathy

52

Malina On Thursday, August 19 at 8:38 pm

You have sent this geeky math homeschooler into serious lust. Must buy…

Just Funnin' Games & Toys On Saturday, August 21 at 10:13 am

I don’t know what the price is in your area, but they should be about $70, as the main company just reduced the wholesale cost recently. I have them on sale in my store this week for $59.95 back to school special. It looks like Amazon is charging a lot more..

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